i_speak_softly | Eleventh Theory [Action/Voice]

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Eleventh Theory [Action/Voice]

((For the duration of the experiment Don's thoughts will be in {curly brackets}, OH GOD SORRY FOR THE BRAINSPAM.))

[Today Donatello is wandering around the village center, enjoying the nice weather and generally exploring. Unbeknownst to him, he is being followed by a thought bubble.]

[As he passes the clinic, on his way to the fountain:]

{... disassociative delusions. Induction of kinesthetic misperception. She thought her arm was artificial, so far as to... I should go visit her.}

[And as he comes into view of the school, he opens his journal:]

Molly, the weather is getting warm... do you want to start building the playground soon?

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No. Never did.

What about you? Ninja by choice?

[Minato grins.]

Could've dropped out of the academy if I wanted to. Didn't. ... I liked the training, I liked learning new techniques, I liked making new techniques. Liked the challenge of stealth missions or of trying to figure out how your enemy's techniques work so you can use them against him. There's some things I don't like about it, of course, but what can you do?

[Minato shrugs. In other words: yes, not only does he enjoy being a ninja, but he quite possibly excels at it. Not that he'd say that he does; that'd be rude.

The ninja sighs. He's picking at his cinnamon roll, too.]

{Making new techniques? He must be very talented...}

I saw that, Minato. I know. I just - seem to keep getting busy with other things. [Never a good enough excuse.]

Ah, no, no. I've still got a far way to go... [Downplaying a compliment--only somewhat Japanese in nature, as he's not outright calling himself horrible. That's not popular in Konoha, but humbleness still is.]

Good. You were supposed to. [There's some slight amusement in his seriousness.] Other things you like more, you mean.

Don't we all. [He's been taught often enough that there's no such thing as absolute mastery.]

... Things that seem more directly relevant to getting out of this place. {Things I'm better at.}

[There's a momentary blink, as if it hadn't quite occurred to Minato to leave this place--even though it had unconsciously for everyone else, he's dead back home. Of course, he's not thinking about the implications of his surprise right now, so it doesn't show up in his thought bubble.

The bit of surprise is replaced by a soft smile.]

That's important, yes--but just remember that you have to be able to watch your back, too. ... I do apologize for being nosy, but unfortunately, I'm a father. Of course, you're nothing like my son, other than being a ninja, but...

[Minato shrugs, looking apologetic.]

I know. {He almost sounds like Master Splinter, sometimes.} I'll ask my brother to spar with me again.

Are you your son's sensei?

That'll be a good start. [Minato sounds satisfied with that. Also, filling away that little bit of knowledge about the brother.] Tell him to not go easy on you, either.

[A pause.]

Ah, no, actually. My student is actually his sensei, and he also has a sensei in my sensei. ... I'm going to be training him here, though. Looking forward to that a lot, actually.

Edited 2010-05-02 03:40 (UTC)

Believe me, he doesn't. [A flash of their last training session.]

Oh, your son is here... is it a good thing, Minato? What do you think of this place, as a father?

Ah, good, good. [Minato's satisfied with that. Very satisfied. Enough that he starts to eat his cinnamon roll again and takes a drink of his coffee.] Just keep that up, then. [And then, for a moment, a vicious grin.] If my kid's out of shape, he's gonna be getting the same treatment.

[Minato shrugs.] Haven't been here long enough to decide if it's a good thing or not. This place has given me a chance to spend some good quality time with him--he's grown up so much, nearly sixteen, but he still needs his father. ... Yet, I'm bothered about being essentially held prisoner here.

[He seems pretty happy about being with his son. Then again, this guy's the type that has a hard time staying depressed for long.]

Edited 2010-05-02 15:12 (UTC)

{Oh, he's the same age as me.} I'm sixteen too. Maybe your son and I could train together.

You said you just arrived - how long has he been here?

Sixteen, ne? I was trying to place your age, but didn't want to make any assumptions. Good to know I was close.

The training would work out very well, I'd think--exposure to different styles of fighting, if anything. There's also another ninja from my village that's his age, and her style is more than likely something you haven't experienced. It'd be good for all of you. I'll ask them about it.

[Minato pauses for a moment in thought.] Around a year, I think. He's... been here for a while.

Yes, please. Being accountable to someone other than my brother sounds like just the motivation I need.

A year? [Intrigued.] But - you never knew he was gone, right? Because of the timeline?

[That gets a chuckle.] "Family", huh? [Minato pointed his fork at Donatello for a moment.] Just gonna warn you--he's a hard worker, and I will tell him to push you if he agrees to train with you. Should be an interesting challenge.

Ah, well. [Minato rubs the back of his neck with his free hand.] Our.. timelines are more than just a year's difference. I'm only twenty-six. My son's sixteen years after my time.

Edited 2010-05-02 17:24 (UTC)

Don't worry. I'm not as much of a slacker as I appear to be.

WHAT?

How can you - even -- Sixteen years?

Good.

[Minato nods firmly, his expression more serious now.]

Sixteen years. [He echoes Donatello's words far more calmly.

The turtle's smart, from what Minato has seen so far. Naruto's sixteen. Naruto's sixteen years after the time Minato was taken. He hasn't trained his kid, but those who know him well have. Minato doesn't have to spell it out.]

Edited 2010-05-02 18:36 (UTC)

But - then -- [Trying to be calm and work this out.] Are you from before he was born? When you got here, how did you know he was your son?

Almost from before then, but, no--he was a newborn. Only held him once; ended up here almost just after.

[Minato smiles wistfully.] He has my hair, poor kid. Same color of eyes--shaped more like his mom's, though. Takes after his mom a lot. And when he's happy--really, really happy--he has my smile.

It was hard not to recognize him as my kid. The time difference was a bit of a shock, though.

Edited 2010-05-02 18:52 (UTC)

[Moment of sadness. And jealousy, for families where the parents and children know each other by shared features.]

That must have been amazing. To see him suddenly grown up.

But why didn't - don't - will not ... Why does he have a different sensei? I've heard that when you leave here, you go back to the exact moment you were taken. So you're not really missing out on all those years...

[Minato's smile is still soft.]

It was amazing.

[He shakes his head, chuckles softly, and then lets out a bit of a sigh as he closes his eyes. There's still that odd, small smile.] Donatello... [He pronounces the name right, strangely enough. His next words warrant it. Minato glances up at the turtle again. There's definite sadness in those eyes, now.] I'm afraid the exact moment I was taken was my last.

Your - what? [Willful failure to understand.]

[Don's attempt to not comprehend it almost makes Minato chuckle. He sips at his coffee again.]

You know what I meant.

[He doesn't seem to be as upset about it as he should be, all things considering. Minato's at peace with the final decisions he made.]

I'm dead. Back home, at least. I gave my life to protect my village and family that I loved. So, for every moment I have left here, I'm grateful.

... Yes. Someone else told me a similar story.

It does explain why you seem so happy to be here. When you leave, you'll ...

But for your son. It must be - {Awful. Wonderful. Both.}

It's both for me as well, but mostly wonderful. I'm not the type to dwell on things I can't change--I focus on what I can change.

So instead of dwelling on what I can't change, I'm going to enjoy my moments with him. Even for simple things such as going to a restaurant or shopping.. oooor working his butt off when I'm training with him. Figured I'll wait until I know him a bit better before I start doing that.

[He sounds like he's looking forward to that last one. Probably is. Poor Naruto?]

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